Indian Railways launches economy meals for unreserved passengers

Indian Railways, in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), has introduced a new initiative of economy meals for passengers, especially those travelling in unreserved coaches.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by passengers in general class coaches, particularly during the summer rush, the initiative offers economical meals and snacks at accessible prices.

The initiative comprises two main offerings: Economy meals priced at Rs 20 and snack meals available for Rs 50. These options cater to passengers looking for both a full meal and lighter refreshments while on the move.

To ensure convenience, designated counters near general second class coaches on platforms will dispense these meals and water directly to passengers. This setup eliminates the hassle of searching for vendors outside the station.

Following a successful pilot at 51 stations last year, the programme has now expanded to over 100 stations, with nearly 150 counters operational. Indian Railways plans further expansion to include more stations in the near future.

Passengers travelling in General Class coaches within the East Coast Railway (ECoR) jurisdiction already benefit from this initiative at key stations like Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Visakhapatnam.